Fitted handbag



April 13, 1954 M. HERRERA FITTED HANDBAG 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 14, 1952 I N V EN TOR. MARY HERRERA :ef/mw' April 13, 1954 M. HERRERA FITTED HANDBAG 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1952 INVENTOR. MARY HERRERA e, i, C

atented pr. 13, 195.4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fitted handbags.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved article holding side Wall and bottom ,wall liner for a handbag which can be readily and easily inserted in a handbag to make a tted bag.

Another object of the present invention proposes forming the side wall and bottom wall liner and an article holding center member pivotally connected together and constructed in such a manner that the center member can be tilted to either side to make the articles thereon accessible but will not tilt far enough to either side to spill the articles.

Still further, the present invention proposes constructing the side wall and bottom wall liner and the article holding center member with transparent open top pockets having nger purchase access openings to facilitate putting articles in the pockets and removing them therefrom as well as quick identification of the articles.

As a further object, the present invention proposes an eflicient but inexpensive construction and a novel arrangement selectively to hold the hinged article holding center member at different angular positions in the handbag.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description article holding center member tilted to one side f and with its other side position indicated in dotdash lines.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away of a handbag and illustrating a modiiication of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of parts shown in Fig. 6.

The handbag l5, in accordance with the first form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6. inclusive, has a bottom wall I6, side walls I1 and 2 I8 and end walls I9 and 20. A top ilap 2l, a clasp 22 and handles 23 and 24 are also shown in Fig. 1.

An article holding side wall and bottom Wall liner 25 is fastened to the side walls |11 and I8 of the bag extending across and resting on the bottom wall I6. Liner 25 has a stiffener sheet 26 which may be made of plastic, liber compositions or similar material. Side sections 21 and 28 of stiffener sheet 26 are secured to the side walls l1 and i8 respectively and the bottom section 29 of the stiifener sheet 26 rests on the bottom Wall I6. l

A limp sheet 30, of leather, satin, moire, silk, thermoplastic or the like, is secured to and covers the unsecured face of the stiffener sheet. The central part of limp` sheet 30 also coversand is secured to a second stiffener sheet 3| to provide a center member 32 hinged by the limp sheet 3U to the liner 25 perpendicular to its bottom section or portion 29.

Pocket forming flexible sheets 33 and 34 preferably of transparent material such as clear thermoplastic sheeting, are secured along their side edges 34, 35, 36 and 31 and along their bottom edges 38 and 39 to the limp sheet 30 on the side wall sections 21 and 28 of the stiffener sheet 26 respectively. The fiexible sheets 33 and 34 are also secured to the limp sheet 30 at spaced intervals between the side edges 34 and 35 and 36 and 37 to form article holding pockets such as comb pocket 43, coin purse pocket 4I, and Wallet pocket 42 on one side of the handbag and note book pocket 43, pen pocket 44, pencil pocket 45, file pocket 46, and key case pocket 41 on the other side. These open top pockets provide article retaining means on the sides of the handbag increasing the capacity of the bag and making the articles therein more readily accessible.

The center member 32 has similar article retaining means on it to hold articles to it. Sheets =49 and 5U of flexible material similar to sheets 33 and 34 are secured to the limp sheet 30 on sides 5| and 52 of the hinged center member 32 respectively. The end edges 53. 54, 55 and 56 of the sheets 43 and 50 and their bottom edges 51 and 58 are secured to the limp sheet 3U. In addition, the sheets 43 and 50 are further secured at spaced intervals between their ends to form article holding pockets such as handkerchief pocket 59, match packet pocket 60, cigarette package pocket 6l on side 5I of the center member and compact pocket 62, rouge case pocket 63, lipstick case pocket 64 and mirror pocket 65 on the other side 52 of the hinged center member 32.

Finger purchase openings 66 in the form of V- shaped notches are provided in the pocket forming exible sheets along their upper edges at the pocket openings.

The center member 3'2 is hinged and held by the limp sheet 30 so that it may tilt in either direction toward the side Walls of the bag but the hinge portions 51 of the limp sheet 30 will not permit the center members to tilt at an angle greatenough to spill'articles from the pockets 553-65. This angle should `be no greater than 45 from the perpendicular and preferably less as shown in Fig. 5. The side walls of the handbag may be positioned to provide rests for the center member if desired.

The modied form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and '7 is characterized by the provisionoi a holding means selectively to hold a hinged center member 32 at different angular positions in the handbag i5. This means is comprised of an extendable strap El; preferablyof metal, bridging the side Walls Il" and i8' of the handbag and secured thereto. The strap has two .end sections 68 and 69 slidably held by bands'ii) to a center section il.

The bands are secured tothe center section. A slide .opening'is is provided in the center section ll of the strap 5l and a pin 'is is fixed to hinged center member 32 and positioned to .be slidablein the slide opening ofthe strap. A pluralityf'of spaced stop .grooves l5 are formed in the center section adjacent to the slide opening along 4its lowerV edge to receive the pin and removably hold the center member tilted at diierent angles inthe handbag. The center section is lifted up slightly to raise the pin ld from a stop groove and seat it in the slide opening 4to move `it tc another position.

While I have illustrated Vand described vthe preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that Ido not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allvchanges yand modifications coming Within the scope of the invention asde- `States Letters Patent is:

l. A handbag comprising a bottom wall, side z Wallsand. end walls, va side Wall liner fastened tothe side walls and extending across the bottom Lugs. i2 on the end sections .prevent them from being pulled out of the bands.

Wall, and a center member hinged to the liner perpendicular to its bottom portion and tiltable at an angle, said center member having article retaining means thereon to hold articles to it, and article retaining means on the side walls of the liner adjacent the center member to hold additional articles, and means including an extendable strap bridging the side walls of the handbag and adjustably coupled to said hinged center member selectively to hold the. hinged center member at different angular positions in the handbag.

2. A handbag comprising a bottom Wall, side Walls and end Walls, a side Wall liner fastened tothe side Walls and extending across the bottom wallrand Aa center member hinged to the liner perpendicular to its bottom Vportion and tiltable at an angle, said center member having article retaining means thereon to hold articles to it, and article retaining means on the side Walls of .the lineradjacent the center. .member to hold additional articles, an extendable strap bridging the sidevvallsof the .handbag and secured thereto, a slide opening in .the strap, a pin secured tothe hinged Ycenter member and slidable in the slide opening of the strap, and a plurality of spaced stop grooves in the strap vadjacent the slide opening to receive the center member pin and removably hold the hinged center .member tilted at different angles in the handbag.

3. The combination. of claim 2 wherein said strap consists o1" a centersectionand .end Vsections and said center .section includes bands secured at each end thereof, v.said end sections passing through said bands, and lug means on the extremities of said .end sections, saidlugs acting as stops with respect to said bands when the is extended.

References Cited :in the file 'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date- 1,464,176 Freund Aug. '7, 1923 1,578,778- Thornhill Mar.r 30, 1926 1,933,266 'Berkowitz Dec. 4, 1934 2,022,162 Speiket al. Nov. 26,1935 2,121,154` `Landis June 21,11938 2,335,898 ArnoldV Dec. '7, 1943 2,419,846' Merz` Apr. 29, 1947 2,623,566 Kibler Dec. 30, `1952 

